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2020 MLB Hit Leader Odds and Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

There is No Clear Favorite to be MLB’s Hit Leader in 2020

Are you starting to get tingles every time you see freshly cut grass? Does a smile wash over your face when you hear the crack of a bat? If so, you might be coming down with a serious case of baseball fever. The MLB season is set to start on March 26, and everyone is ready to see the boys of summer take the field again in just a few weeks.

Like most things in baseball, the significance of a hit has changed from what it once was in the sport’s halcyon days. Players like Pete Rose and Ty Cobb were widely praised due to their ability to make contact with the ball, but sabermetrics have emphasized on-base percentage and walks more each year. Leading the majors in hits is still a major accomplishment though, and league leaders in this category are generally among the highest-paid players in baseball.

2020 MLB Hit Total Betting Online Odds at DraftKings:

Jose Altuve +1200
Nolan Arenado +1200
Whit Merrifield +1200
Rafael Devers +1300
DJ LeMahieu +1500
Francisco Lindor +1500
Ketel Marte +1500
Ozzie Albies +2000
Trea Turner +2000
Tim Anderson +2200
Xander Bogaerts +2200
Jorge Polanco +2200
Jean Segura +2200
Christian Yelich +2200
Mookie Betts +2500
Freddie Freeman +2500
Jeff McNeil +2800
JD Martinez +3000
Ronald Acuna Jr. +3300
Charlie Blackmon +3300
Yuli Gurriel +3300
Starling Marte +3300
Anthony Rendon +3300
Amed Rosario +3300
Eddie Rosario +3300
Fernando Tatis Jr. +3300
Mike Trout +3300
All Others at +4000 or More

2020 MLB Hit Total Odds Overview

Unsurprisingly, players that previously led the league in hits are the favorites to register the most hits in 2020. Jose Altuve led the American League in hits from 2014 to 2017 with over 200 hits per season, and Whit Merrifield led the MLB in this category for each of the last two seasons.

In an interesting quirk, while there have been plenty of players with multiple hits titles in the AL over the last two decades, only one National League player has led the league in hits multiple times. Juan Pierre led the NL in hits in 2004 and 2006, and the second to last player to lead the NL in hits multiple times was Dante Bichette in 1998.

The Favorites

Altuve was the best hitter in the AL when healthy last decade, but he missed 25 games in 2018 and 38 games in 2019, so injuries are a concern for Houston’s shortstop. Additionally, you have to wonder how comfortable he will be in the batter’s box, given the animosity that the rest of baseball has towards the Astros as a result of their cheating scandal. Those factors make it tough to bet on Altuve to be the hits leader at 12-1.

Nolan Arenado is an interesting choice to be one of the favorites since he has never led the NL in hits, and he has never registered more than 187 hits in a season. While Colorado’s third baseman is one of the best hitters in the game, the fewest hits we have seen lead the MLB over the last two decades is 192 hits in 2018, and you generally have to finish with at least 200 hits to lead the majors.

The favorite to bet on at 12-1 is Whit Merrifield. Merrifield has led the majors in hits for each of the last two seasons, and the only reason is a co-favorite with others is that he is on the wrong side of 30. Kansas City’s star player is a late bloomer though, making his MLB debut at the age of 27, and he has the added benefit of being the leadoff hitter for the Royals.

Next Up

Rafael Devers came into his own at the age of 22 in 2019. Devers cranked 201 hits and led the majors with 359 total bases last year, so he is a popular pick to lead baseball in hits in 2020. He doesn’t have the same protection he once did in the lineup with Mookie Betts gone though, so opposing teams may choose to pitch around him if he starts the season hot.

Teammate Xander Bogaerts is among the next group of contenders for the hitting title too. He has tallied at least 190 hits in three of the last five seasons, and there is some considerable value on Bogaerts at 22-1 provided he can stay healthy.

The Longshots

Ronald Acuña Jr. has lived up to the hype since making his MLB debut two years ago. He is already one of the best players in baseball, and he led the NL in plate appearances, runs, and stolen bases in just his second season in the majors. The sky is the limit for Atlanta’s 22-year-old star, and 33-1 is great value considering his potential.

2020 MLB Hit Total Free Picks:

Whit Merrifield at +1200; Xander Bogaerts at +2200; Ronald Acuña Jr. at +3300

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